OK, so I want to put this cut on a 1911 that I am building, but I'm not sure what the best tool is to make it with. Should I just use the largest flat 4 flute end mill that I have or could I use the same face mill that I use to make a flat top cut? Also, how deep should I go? I'm thinking about .200" on each side. What do you think?
Ball mill
I don't understand Greg Derr's reply, as I understand high power cuts to be thinning the front end of the slide, and ball cuts to be extending the radius back so it rises vertically from the edge of the dust cover.
I'm also interested in the procedures people typically use to give a 1911 slide the high power look though. I'm going to measure the slide thickness where it's cut for the bushing cam when I get home from work.
.200 is a lot, you'll be amazed how little it takes to get that look think more in the .040 range. the radius back to the full width is what determines the cutter, I like .250 or .187. I measure the thickness on each side of the slide and you MUST account for the cut inside the slide that locks the barrel bushing into the slide. If you do not you'll cut through.
.375 ball end mill is what I use to cut the ball end cuts along the recoil spring tunnel. This can all be done in a single set up on the mill.